In the final Period, the Sprint 2 was extended and brought support to all Pilots. The Sprint methodology ensured the mobilisation of experts on co-design, implementation, user uptake, and sustainability and communication to work closely along user needs to design and develop services that can be incorporated in operational workflows. 405 individual Challenges were defined within e-shape over the three Sprint periods, each defining objectives, milestones and evidence of achievement. A 97% completion rate was reached at project’s end.
Based on co-design, a user-centric approach was followed, which improved the ability of Pilots to develop a sustainable service engaging users. This approach ensured the relevance of the services developed for users, thus empowering the potential relationship between the upstream data and infrastructure and securing societal benefits as an outcome. The sustainable uptake of e-shape’s co-designed Pilots was supported by technical Challenges implemented through the Sprint and supported by technology knowledge and advice. The relationship brought forward by the co-design was further reinforced with the support of WP4, which rolled out a user-uptake action plan for each Pilot, building on the co-designed service and expanding user engagement in an expanded scope (geographic and thematic). The user uptake activities provided solid material and confidence for a further go-to-market perspective, working on the sustainability aspects in WP5.
The iterative service development approach demonstrated in e-shape (co-design; user uptake; sustainability supported by technical knowledge support) - or ‘conveyor belt’ in the initial proposal, significantly improved the maturity of the Pilots along the Technology - Operation - Market dimensions specified by the PERL indicators. Resources invested in Pilots through the Sprint, supported the maturation of Pilots. This maturation process is testified by the analysis of the PERL dimensions, which were compiled for 36 out of 37 Pilots (see final presentation at Review Meeting).
e-shape supported the development of sustainability or business plans for each e-shape Pilot, which demonstrated the effectiveness of a Sustainability Booster concept, which could further bolster the results achieved so far and bring the pilot innovations to the European and global markets in a more impactful way, i.e. through a reinforced EuroGEO initiative. An in-depth assessment of relevant governance models for the project has been performed, resulting in proposals to be further discussed with the EuroGEO community. It formulates ambitions and potential implementation structures of a future EuroGEO Secretariat.
The Communication Strategy of e-shape demonstrated a strong alignment from the top level messages cascaded to the Showcases and down to Pilot level, with a powerful and consistent branding and identity. The strategy was implemented through a multi-level approach, adapting messages and communication channels to communication targets, from high-level audiences (EuroGEO, GEO, EO Community) to a community of users (at Showcase level) and potential users as well as stakeholders (at Pilot level). The strategic liaison between the high level messages and the more targeted Pilot-level communication actions was organised through the communication of Showcase webinars and the onboarding campaigns (and individual mini-communication plans implemented for each Pilot.
The compliance with the INSPIRE directive, GEO Recommendations on interoperability, GEO Data sharing and Data management principles in WP3 was coordinated through the design and implementation of an EO-specific data management plan (DMP). This task was coordinated through a specific Sprint Challenge mandatory to all Pilots. The compliance with the INSPIRE directive was organised through the design of INSPIRE-compliant knowledge granules hosted on a GeoNetwork catalogue. Those knowledge granules are harvested automatically by the GEO Knowledge Hub and the GEO DAB, ensuring outreach to external communities - beyond e-shape.
